Of all the surprises that have been connected to the Big 12 Conference recently, from Texas A&M jetting to the SEC and Missouri considering whether it should, too, from the Oklahoma schools being chased back in the fold to Texas agreeing to rein in the Longhorn Network, what if the biggest is yet to come?

What if the biggest surprise of all is South Florida?

There's a chance South Florida could head to the Big 12 if Missouri leaves for the SEC. (AP Photo)

Presuming the Big 12 is to lose Missouri and again be left standing with nine members, the conference almost certainly will add at least one more member to get back to an even 10.

Staying at that number is the preference of some schools—including, reportedly, Texas—and would require the addition of one new member that would either come from another league or from the very small selection of major independents.

Independent BYU has been considered as a potential 10th member since the initial A&M secession, but problems exist with a lack of geographic appeal and also the university’s stance against competing on Sunday’s.

There is some quiet buzz, though, that the Big 12 might be interested in invading the South to select USF. Adding the Bulls would facilitate recruiting in the rich Florida talent scene and would put the conference into the Tampa/St. Petersburg area.

South Florida has not enjoyed the athletic success of some other Big East teams, but it has produced such NFL players as Jason Pierre-Paul of the New York Giants and it plays in an NFL venue, Raymond James Stadium.

This might be the best possible scenario for the Big East, which already has plans to add UCF in the works. Trading the Bulls for the Knights would be far less problematic for the Big East than trying to find someone to approximate what WVU or Louisville adds to the league.

Again, it appears as though West Virginia is the most likely candidate to replace Missouri, presuming the Tigers depart the Big 12. But that’s why a surprise can be so surprising.